SERIE A MATCH REPORT

Chievo earned a surprise opening round victory away to Udinese, but Simone Scuffet’s positioning was a real problem in goal.

Gigi Del Neri took Chievo into Serie A for the first time in 2001-02 and faced his former club at the revamped Dacia Arena. Danilo sat out a ban with Silvan Widmer injured, starting new buys Bram Nuytinck and Kevin Lasagna. The Flying Donkeys were without Riccardo Meggiorini and Gianluca Gaudino.

Udinese last beat Chievo at home with a 3-0 result in February 2014, managing two draws and a 2-1 defeat.

The visitors took the lead when a Valter Birsa corner found Roberto Inglese’s glancing header at the near post, which squirmed under Simone Scuffet’s body in some disappointing goalkeeping from the youngster.

Udinese equalised with a former Chievo hitman, as Rodrigo De Paul rolled across for Cyril Thereau to hit it first time from the edge of the penalty area.

Scuffet’s positioning was again a serious problem for the second Chievo goal after the restart, as Birsa spotted him way off his line and unleashed the lob from distance.

Birsa almost did it once more, this time not quite getting it on target, and Valon Behrami was close to getting the equaliser on his debut, but Stefano Sorrentino was ready.

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